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Jan. 23,19%, 1,442,822

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Fl LED DEO. 24. 1920.

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Patented Jan. 23, 1923 UNITED STATES PATENT Qf'fil.

ALVAH L. POWELL, OF MILES CITY, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. Ii. POTWELLPOWER C0., OF IVIILES CITY, BIONTANA, A CORPORATION.

INTEBNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed December 24, 1920.

.To aZZ wzi-0m it may conoera:

Be it known that I, ALVAI-I L. PownLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Miles City, in the county of Custer and State of .LVlontana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-'Combustion Engines, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in internal comhustion engines inwhich I provide means for automatic mechanical ignition, and foreffecting the ignition at a point in the stroke most favorable to powerdevelopment. This application accompanies another filed simultaneously,and bearing the Serial Number 433,033. The machine herein describedfollows: the lines of construction shown in my other application butembraces variations that I desire to cover.

In the annexed drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation, in section, of a twocycle engine equipped with my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the power stroke.

Fig. 4 shows the cam and gearing necessary when the improvement is usedon a four cycle engine.

In Fig. 1, the cylinder A of a two cycle gas engine has a piston C6,conventionally fitted to piston rod and crank to transmit power to a.shaft, C7. Proper inlet and outlet, operable, valves are shown at A7,A8. On the upper side of cylinder A there is a cylindrical chamber inwhich is fitted a slidable piston, A2. This piston has, at one end, anautomatic inlet check Valve K. VA2 terminates in a tongue to which isfitted an arm of a bell crank, D3, the latter` pivoted to any convenientpoint in the engine frame. Piston A2 is hollow, and in the cylindricalspace so formed there is a second piston K1. This is stationary on apin, K2, that is held in position by a plate K3 on the opposite side ofcylinder A. It is evident from the construction, that a reciprocatorymovement of the piston A2 will result in compression being effectedwithin it during a forward movement; that is, a movement towards thecylinder A, but on reversal a vacuum will be formed and air will bedrawn in through the valve K. Inlet grooves of a proper'len h to assureaccess of air are shown at On compression .stroke of piston A2 thecompressed air is Serial No. 433,034.

forced through an opening shown. at K5, by which the said air passesinto an annular space, K, in which it is retained during' part of thestroke of A2 by the wall of the latter and the ball K7. This ballseri-es'as a check valve under the conditions about to be described. Onone side of the ball K7 a sheet of Wire gauze is preferably placed (K8)to act as a fiame screen.

Let it be assumed that piston C6 is at upstroke, on compression. A cam,D on power shaft is just engaging the bent end of rod D1, that issuitably attachecl to the bell crank D3. It will be observed that theface of the cam, that is, the length of said face equals the length ofthe arc a 7.` As the crank rides over the space o (Z the verticalmovement of piston is small, but during this interval the cam D will beoperating the bell crank D3 which, in turn, will cause the secondarypiston A2 to move in- Ward towards center line of piston O. Thestationary piston K1 will act as a compressing member within piston A2and the contained air will be compressed, passing through hole K5 whilethe latter is moving over annular space K6. The position of piston C6will cause it to act as a cut-off to the passage occupied by the ballK7, and the compressed air in said passage will be retained. As pistonC6 starts out on power stroke, but before ignition, compression tends tofall, but piston A2 advances simultaneously, compensating for the lossdue to movement of O6. As C6 uncovers the hole at M of passage K thecompressed air in the annular space will push aside the hall K"I andenter the main combustion chamber. This will be efected at a point ofcrank movement indicated by d. The relative space and movement beingproportioned for high compression of the annular charge its ingress tothe main cylinder will be at ignition temperature. The air and gas insaid main chamber will, therefore, be fired, piston CG moving downward,transmitting movement to the crank on the are de (Fig. 3). The arc d-eis the ideal line of movement for the crank pin and on traversing itmaximum power will be transmitted to the shaft C7.

I also show an electric ignition plug at M1. This can be' used in anengine using lower compression, although applicable to the highcompression Itype as well.

In this case the pin ,K2 would be removed,

a plug being introduced in end of piston K1, and the cover K3 put backin position as shown in K3. Compression within A2 Will no longer takeplace under these conditions,

but the pressure compensating action of 'A2' With reference to themovement ofC6 would remain the same.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown. and ask tohave protected by Letters Patent,

Claim.

In a gas engine. the combination of powerV means) secondary compressionmeans for maintaining compression, mechanical means VVhat believe isnew` rod and bell crank to transmit said camV movement to a secondarypiston operated by said crank rod, a valve in said secondary piston, aminor piston within said secondary piston, a Chamber to hold highlycompressed air, a valve in said Chamber, means for releasing saidsecondary compressed air into main cylinder for ignition purposes, andmeans for transmitting primary piston power to a crank shaft,substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature;

ALVAH L. POWELL.

